International students arrive on campus!
By: Communications
This week, the new international students have arrived on campus, ready to start their journey at UEA.
Their Welcome Week started with being greeted at Heathrow Airport in a ‘Love Actually’-esque welcome, to a variety of fun activities around Norwich and on campus.
Steven McGuire, Pro-Vice Chancellor for International at UEA, recently sat down with The Free Press Journal to discuss the attraction of UK universities to international students and the welcoming atmosphere UEA provides, being ‘a home away from home’.
Speaking about why international students choose to come to university, he said: “The UK educational landscape is highly international. British universities have become much more welcoming and better equipped to support international students over the past two decades. There is a strong focus on employability, with many programs incorporating work-experience or industry projects.”
Durga Bagchi, who is from Kolkata, India and studying a Master's in Economics, said: "I chose England because of the offer of a one-year Master's course, and it's pretty affordable compared to other countries. UEA stood out to me in particular because the city is safe and has such a rich culture, and I'm excited to study my Master's here!"
Prof McGuire also spoke about how UEA has handled recent social unrest for international students: “The UK has a long history of being a safe and welcoming destination for international students. At the UEA, we prioritise student safety and well-being. In the event of any unrest, we would work closely with local authorities and provide additional support to our international student community to ensure their safety and address any concerns.
“The UK government has shown commitment to attracting international students, as evidenced by the graduate route visa. However, the landscape is competitive, and we're always working to enhance our offerings to remain an attractive destination for international students. At the UEA, we advocate for it by ensuring our students are well-informed about this visa by highlighting its benefits in our communications with prospective students.”
At UEA, much of this week has been spent organising events to help new students explore the city, socialise with each other, and engage in activities that help the students ease into life on campus.
Shashidar R. Kolur has chosen to study Molecular Medicine at UEA, making the move from Bangalore in India. He said: "UEA was my first choice to study my course as the entire curriculum stood out to me, and I'm so excited to get the opportunity to study at UEA. I have always wanted to be a part of the research conducted at UEA, and hope to achieve this in my time here."
Prof McGuire continues: “All international students face one common problem: that is of acclimatisation. At UEA, we have support systems in place, including dedicated course directors for large international cohorts, student academic advisors, and welfare support. We encourage all students to join clubs and get involved in university life to build a support network.
“We are always looking to improve our support, so we welcome feedback from students from different regions to address any specific needs they might have.”